NEW DELHI, Mar 6: Manik Saha was on Monday re-elected the leader of the Tripura BJP legislature party to continue as the Chief Minister for the second consecutive term.
His name was decided at the meeting of the newly-elected members of the BJP held on Monday evening. BJP and its ally IPFT returned to power in Tripura winning 33 seats in the 60-member assembly. The BJP won 32 seats of the 60-member Assembly while its ally — Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) — won one seat.
The swearing-in-ceremony of the Chief Minister and the new council of ministers would be held on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda are expected to attend the event.
A spokesperson of the BJP informed reporters after the meeting that the selection was unanimously endorsed by all MLAs of the party. Earlier sources had indicated that even though Saha is the front-runner, a section in the state party is rooting for Union Minister Pratima Bhowmik.
Assam Chief Minister and NEDA head Himanta Biswa Sarma had visited the State on Sunday to measure the water and held meetings with the Chief Minister and senior party colleagues on the possible formation of the next cabinet. Party sources said Sarma also had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Sunday over the composition of the cabinet and its leader to ensure a smooth transition.
The 70-year-old, who was given the top job in the state last year in a brand renewal exercise replacing Biplab Kumar Deb, had earlier said the new Tripura government would work to make ‘Ek Tripura, Srestha Tripura’.
Even though the coalition of the BJP and the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) returned to power for a second time, it was well short of the “tsunami” predicted by Manik Saha. Both parties secured fewer seats when compared to their performance in 2018, when they together won 44 seats.
Manik Saha, who won the elections from Town Bardowali Assembly constituency, claimed the party’s performance in Tripura was on expected lines. “BJP’s victory was expected. We were eagerly waiting for it. Our responsibility has increased now. We will walk in the direction Prime Minister Narendra Modi shows us,” he said.
(Manas Dasgupta)